Mar.6 (GMM) Mike Gascoyne was sacked because he could not work with his colleagues, Force India head Vijay Mallya has revealed.

The Indian billionaire dismissed Gascoyne and team boss Colin Kolles following a disappointing debut season for the team in 2008.

German team driver Adrian Sutil admitted that the "atmosphere" has improved in the wake of the decision, and teammate Giancarlo Fisichella said it was obvious 45-year-old Gascoyne "struggled to work" well with the team.

In 2006, Gascoyne left Toyota, the team revealing a "fundamental difference of opinion" with the technical boss whose management style earned him the nickname 'the bulldog'.

Mallya told F1's official website that design director Mark Smith and technical director James Key are now in charge of Force India's car.

He explained: "In a way, Mike Gascoyne was a very imposing person.

"(He) practiced a formula that was 'his way or the highway' and these talented people were not given an opportunity."

Also now working with Force India is McLaren's Simon Roberts, to act as chief operations engineer for the collaboration beginning this year with McLaren-Mercedes.